• Cold Regions Vehicle Start: Cold Performance of Ultracapacitor-Based Batteries for Stryker Vehicles

    Abstract: Reliable vehicle start is necessary to support mission success, especially for response time. At Department of Defense installations in cold regions, vehicles using rechargeable battery and starter technologies have significant issues starting in the cold. Ultracapacitor engine start modules (ESMs) are an alternate technology to rechargeable lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries. The project develops a performance baseline for the ESM used in the M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicle under cold conditions. To test the performance of the ESMs in a cold room, a mechanical load system was constructed to replicate the load of starting a Stryker engine and instrumented with sensors to monitor parameters such as voltage, torque, and temperature. The ESMs were tested with the load system at temperatures from 24°C to −40°C. The results of the tests showed that there was some degradation of the ultracapacitor’s performance at the colder temperatures, which was expected, but no permanent damage. This work provides a test protocol and capability to evaluate next-generation vehicle battery systems for cold regions applications. Additionally, the ESM cold performance data establish a baseline to compare next-generation vehicle battery storage systems and to support cold regions missions and identify potential performance requirements for future vehicle battery system acquisition.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Announces Second Contract Award for the Fire Island to Montauk Point Project

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New York District, announces the second contract award for the major coastal-storm risk management project known as the Fire Island to Montauk Point (FIMP) Project. The $24,498,050 contract was awarded to Lake Dredge and Dock Company LLC, of Houston, TX.
  • Davis leaves mark on ERDC after 42 years

    Worker retention is a problem facing many enterprises across the country. In fact, a recent study released by Gallup showed that millennials — those between the ages of 25 and 34 — expect to change jobs about every three years. Working for a single company for the life of a person’s career seems to be a thing of the past.
  • USACE instrumental in preservation of one of Louisville’s oldest historic homes

    A piece of Louisville’s history has been preserved thanks in part to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District’s Regulatory Division.  
  • JED ‘demolishes’ fiscal year record

    JED awarded a whopping 341 contract actions— purchases of facility construction or repairs, supplies or equipment for the laymen, totaling $434 million during FY22, the largest year on record, and an astounding $269 million more than previously executed compared to FY21.
  • Landform Identification in the Chihuahuan Desert for Dust Source Characterization Applications: Developing a Landform Reference Data Set

    Abstract: ERDC-Geo is a surface erodibility parameterization developed to improve dust predictions in weather forecasting models. Geomorphic landform maps used in ERDC-Geo link surface dust emission potential to landform type. Using a previously generated southwest United States landform map as training data, a classification model based on machine learning (ML) was established to generate ERDC-Geo input data. To evaluate the ability of the ML model to accurately classify landforms, an independent reference landform data set was created for areas in the Chihuahuan Desert. The reference landform data set was generated using two separate map-ping methodologies: one based on in situ observations, and another based on the interpretation of satellite imagery. Existing geospatial data layers and recommendations from local rangeland experts guided site selections for both in situ and remote landform identification. A total of 18 landform types were mapped across 128 sites in New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico using the in situ (31 sites) and remote (97 sites) techniques. The final data set is critical for evaluating the ML-classification model and, ultimately, for improving dust forecasting models.
  • Prado Dam bicentennial mural greenlit for restoration

    It’s been a cultural landmark to residents, commuters and visitors in Corona for nearly 50 years, and now, after successful coordination between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District and its partners, the aging Prado Dam bicentennial mural is getting safely removed to make way for a new one.
  • 22-066 Lower Granite Visitor Center Resumes Off-Season Hours

    CLARKSTON, Wash. – With the summer recreation season winding down, Lower Granite Lock and Dam’s Visitor Center hours of operation are set to change beginning Monday, October 3.
  • USACE awards large, foundational construction contract for CEPP EAA A-2 Reservoir

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District, awarded the second Corps construction contract for the Central Everglades Planning Project Everglades Agricultural Area (CEPP EAA) Phase Reservoir, a key component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). This contract is for the Foundation and Cutoff Wall features of the CEPP EAA A-2 Reservoir located in Palm Beach County, Florida.
  • 22-065 Dworshak Dam releases to fluctuate between 3,600 and 6,000 cfs on Oct. 5 & 6 for testing

    AHSAHKA, Idaho –Dworshak Dam releases will remain at 1,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) through Monday, Oct. 3 as the reservoir begins fall operations. The current reservoir elevation is approximately 1,519 feet and the maximum allowable elevation by the end of December is approximately 1,559 feet.